The end of February usually means two days of fieldwork on the coast measuring sward lengths and counting goose poo. Today was spent in the Budle Bay area. There were planty of geese to be seen with a flock of 480 light bellied brent geese accompanied by 140 pink footed geese, 14 barnacles and at least one bean goose (Taiga variety). There were good numbers of teal (120+) on flooded fields as well as shelduck (1) and curlew (90+). Small numbers of meadow pipits, skylarks and fieldfares were making there way north. There were 8 roe deer, in one herd, on Ross.
Short grass swards and a large amount of goose poo has meant that the pastures have been heavily grazed over the winter period.
Hi George,were the Bean Geese in the fields north of Harpers Heugh car park ?
ReplyDeleteThe bean geese were flying around with pink-feet. I was in the middle of the field (Ross) when one flew over my head with 6 pinks. There was the same bird or another with Pink feet between the Elwick hide and Fenham le Moor today.
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